Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson

Maddy summaryHJR 112 proposes adding a new section to the Texas Constitution that affirms parents' inherent right to make decisions about their children's upbringing, including care, custody, and control. It would limit state interference with this right unless the government proves the interference is essential for a compelling interest and narrowly tailored to achieve it. The amendment must be approved by Texas voters in the November 2025 election, with the ballot phrasing "The constitutional amendment establishing parents as the primary decision-makers for their children." This would directly affect all Texas parents and state agencies involved in child welfare decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 3509 amends Texas law to change how hotel owners can form public improvement districts for property enhancements. It requires petitions to be signed by hotel management (like owners, general managers, or regional managers) and show signers represent over 60% of both the hotel property's appraised value and either the number of hotels or total hotel area in the district. This applies specifically to districts in certain municipalities where hotels are the primary focus. The bill directly affects hotel businesses seeking to fund district improvements through property assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 defines "cell-cultured protein" as food made by harvesting animal cells and replicating them in a growth medium, then adds it to Texas' prohibited acts under the Health and Safety Code. The bill specifically bans the manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption within Texas. This targets companies producing or selling lab-grown meat alternatives, making such activities unlawful under existing food safety prohibitions without creating new regulatory requirements. The bill remains pending after being postponed on May 14, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how unclaimed restitution payments are handled for crime victims in Texas. If a victim doesn’t claim restitution within three years of the court receiving the first payment, or if the court can’t locate them for three years after a payment, the unclaimed funds transfer to the Victims’ Compensation Fund. It requires parole departments to send payment histories and the victim’s last known address to courts when handling restitution, and keeps this information confidential. The bill directly affects crime victims, parole departments, and court clerks managing restitution payments.

Maddy summaryHB 3221 adjusts school district contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for teachers who qualify for minimum salary under specific education code provisions. It requires districts to pay a monthly contribution equal to a percentage of the statutory minimum salary, with rates changing over time: 1.5% for 2014-2015, then gradually decreasing based on state contribution rate changes until 2019, and continuing with a rate tied to annual state contributions. The bill directly affects school districts and teachers meeting the minimum salary criteria, modifying their retirement funding structure. It applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, taking effect September 1, 2025, unless approved for immediate effect with a two-thirds vote.

Maddy summaryHB 170 creates civil immunity for individuals who use or threaten to use force or deadly force that is justified under Texas Penal Code Chapter 9 (e.g., self-defense or defense of others). It protects such individuals from civil lawsuits seeking damages for personal injury or death resulting from their justified actions. The bill also requires courts to award defendants who win immunity claims reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and related expenses. It repeals Section 9.06 of the Penal Code and applies only to cases occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3911 allows oil and gas operators in good standing (those with active leases or mineral ownership) to contract with Railroad Commission-approved well pluggers to plug or replug "orphaned wells" (inactive wells without a responsible operator). The bill requires pluggers to provide 30 days' notice to the well operator and assume physical control of the well, while protecting operators from liability for the plugging work or related damages. It also prohibits using payment or contracting evidence in future lawsuits about well-plugging obligations, making such evidence inadmissible in court. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, and directly affects operators, mineral owners, and approved well pluggers.

Maddy summaryHB 5263 requires Texas education agencies to make student state assessment results accessible to parents through a simplified online process. Specifically, it mandates that parents can access their child's test results with no more than one click from the agency's website, using secure, student-specific identifiers controlled solely by the parent or guardian without needing third-party verification. The bill directly affects parents of students taking state-mandated assessments under Section 39.023 of the Education Code. It takes effect September 1, 2025, aiming to streamline access to assessment data while maintaining security protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 2911 creates new state funding for Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools that do not participate in the state's uniform group health coverage program for active employees. It provides additional aid calculated by dividing the total health care appropriation for education employees by the combined employee count of all qualifying districts, then multiplying by the district's own employee count. This funding must be used solely to pay for group health coverage contributions for district employees. The bill also allows schools that discontinued participation in the program between September 2021 and September 2023 to rejoin before the fifth anniversary of their exit, a provision set to expire in 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 4336 allows hospital employees to take custody of newborns without a court order under specific conditions. It applies to infants 60 days old or younger who are voluntarily left with hospital staff immediately after birth (e.g., handed to an employee or placed in a designated safety device) and where the parent does not express intent to return. The bill amends Texas Family Code Section 262.302(a) to formalize this process, removing the need for judicial oversight in these emergency situations. The law will take effect September 1, 2025.